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----------------------------------------------------------- Readme File for Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro, SideWinder Game Pad, and SideWinder Gaming Devices 1.5 Software Update December 1996 ----------------------------------------------------------- (c) Microsoft Corporation, 1996 THIS COMPUTER PROGRAM IS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW AND INTERNATIONAL TREATIES. UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION OF THIS PROGRAM, OR ANY PORTION OF IT, MAY RESULT IN SEVERE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES, AND WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE UNDER THE LAW. This document provides late-breaking or other information that supplements the Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro, the Microsoft SideWinder game pad, and the Microsoft SideWinder Gaming Devices 1.5 software update documentation. ----------------------------------- Where to Find Information ----------------------------------- Your online documentation can help you become familiar with the capabilities of this product and can help you figure out the answers to your questions. * The Online User's Guide, accessible from the Start menu, is a comprehensive online Help system containing conceptual and step-by-step information, as well as troubleshooting suggestions. * The Game Device Profiler Online User's Guide, accessible from the Help menu of the Game Device Profiler, contains step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting information. * To learn more about the Microsoft gaming devices, as well as other Microsoft hardware products and updates, visit our World Wide Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/ ------------------------- How to Use This Document ------------------------- To view this Readme file on-screen in Windows Notepad, maximize the Notepad window and click Word Wrap on the Edit menu. To print the Readme file, open it in Notepad or another word processor, and then use the Print command on the File menu. This Readme covers both the SideWinder 3D Pro and the SideWinder game pad. Make sure that you read the section that applies to your gaming device. ------------------------- CONTENTS ------------------------- 1. Don't Install Older Software over the New SideWinder Gaming Devices 1.5 Update 2. GAME PORTS AND SOUND CARDS 2.1 Don't Connect Your Gaming Device to a Network AUI Port 2.2 Game Port Cables 2.3 Game Port and Sound Card Issues 2.4 SideWinder 3D Pro Game Port Issues 2.5 SideWinder Game Pad Game Port Issues 3. Using SideWinder 3D Pro in Analog Mode 4. Using the SideWinder Game Pad in Pass-Through Mode for Analog Devices 4.1 Pass-through Mode Is Not Supported for Add-on Devices 4.2 Kraft Thunderstick Switches Out of Pass-through Mode 5. GAMES-NOTES ON COMPATIBILITY WITH SIDEWINDER 3D PRO 5.1 Running Games Simultaneously 5.2 Use Analog Mode for Best Performance with these Games 5.3 Games That May Experience Problems 5.4 Notes on Other Games 6. GAMES-NOTES ON COMPATIBILITY WITH SIDEWINDER GAME PAD 6.1 Running Games Simultaneously 6.2 Setting up the SideWinder Game Pad for MS-DOS-based Games 6.3 Playing Games in an MS-DOS Box Under Windows 95 6.4 Games That May Experience Problems 6.5 Notes on Other Games 7. DISPLAY COMPATIBILITY 7.1 Use The Latest Drivers 7.2 Diamond Edge 3D Nvidia Video Drivers 8. MEMORY ISSUES 9. KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS IN THE GAME DEVICE PROFILER 9.1 Exit Keystroke Assignment Mode 9.2 Display "Right-Click" Shortcut Menu 10. TROUBLESHOOTING 10.1 Suspending the Game Device Profiler 10.2 Device Is Connected but Gaming Device Properties Doesn't Show It 10.3 Can't Open Gaming Device Properties, or Devices Listed as "Not Connected" 10.4 Control Panel Missing Joystick or Gaming Device Properties 10.5 Selecting the Correct Executable File When Creating a Profile 10.6 Profile Not Working for Game That Plays from CD-ROM Drive 10.7 Minimum System Configuration Needed 10.8 Strange Colors in the Game Device Profiler 10.9 Keystroke Assignments Sometimes Do Not Work 10.10 Profile Not Working for a Game That is Part of a Multi-Game Package 10.11 Using Profiles for MS-DOS-based Games Started from the MS-DOS Prompt in Windows 95 10.12 Problems with the SideWinder game pad 10.12.1 Game Pad Won't Work When Computer is Restarted in MS-DOS Mode 10.12.2 Several Game Pads Are Connected but Gaming Device Properties Says One or More are "Not Connected" 10.12.3 Game Device Profiler Doesn't Recognize More Than One Game Pad 10.13 Game Doesn't Recognize Devices Connected During Game Play 11. UPDATES TO THE SIDEWINDER 3D PRO 1.0 SOFTWARE 12. CORRECTIONS ============================================================ Part 1: DON'T INSTALL OLDER SOFTWARE OVER THE NEW SIDEWINDER GAMING DEVICES 1.5 UPDATE ============================================================ You don't have to install the SideWinder 3D Pro 1.0 software after you've installed the SideWinder Gaming Devices 1.5 update. Both of these products include newer versions of the SideWinder 3D Pro and SideWinder game pad software. If you reinstall the older software over the updated software, your system will experience a general protection fault when you try to access the Test, Setting, or Device Assignment dialog boxes in Gaming Device Properties. >>>To resolve the problem: 1 Uninstall the new SideWinder Gaming Devices 1.5 updated software. 2 Uninstall any old versions of the SideWinder software that are installed on your computer(SideWinder 3D Pro and SideWinder game pad software). 3 Reinstall the new SideWinder Gaming Devices 1.5 updated software. =================================================== Part 2: GAME PORTS AND SOUND CARDS =================================================== 2.1 Don't Connect Your Gaming Device to a Network AUI Port Network adapters with an AUI 15-pin port resemble the standard game port. If you plug your SideWinder gaming device into a network port, you may damage the gaming device or network card. 2.2 Game Port Cables * Y-Cables Don't use a y-cable to connect the SideWinder gaming device to your computer because some y-cables can damage your gaming device. * Extender Cables Don't use a game port extender cable to connect the SideWinder gaming device to your computer. Extender cables can severely reduce the performance of your gaming device. 2.3 Game Port and Sound Card Issues If you plug your SideWinder 3D Pro or SideWinder game pad into one of the following game ports, the joystick or game pad may experience problems or may not work. (See Also: Section 2.4, "SideWinder 3D Pro Game Port Issues") In addition, the SideWinder 3D Pro joystick and SideWinder game pad are designed to work with only one game port installed. Using multiple game ports may cause problems. * Diamond Edge 3D (Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.) or other Nvidia-based 3D accelerator card. The onboard game port is incompatible with the Microsoft gaming devices digital drivers. To use the joystick or game pad, you must install a standard game port. * Game Jammer PC Card (New Media Systems Corp.) This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such as the SideWinder game pad. * Hewlett-Packard HP4000CT laptop docking station (Hewlett-Packard Co.) This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such as the SideWinder game pad. * Media Vision Prosonic and Pro Audio 3D(Media Vision, Inc.) This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such as the SideWinder game pad. If you have problems, try loading the DOS drivers for the card. For the SideWinder 3D Pro to work properly, you must load the MS-DOS drivers as well as the Windows 95 drivers. If you still experience problems, use the SideWinder 3D Pro in analog mode. * Microcomputer Microconnect 34 You may experience problems (such as erratic button presses) with games if you have the sound on. If you disable the sound, your game should play properly. * Mwave sound card (IBM Corp.), used in the IBM Aptiva You may experience problems (such as erratic button presses) with games if you have the sound on. If you disable the sound, your game should play properly. * Quick Shot PCMCIA (Bondwell Global, Ltd.) To properly configure this game port, you need to obtain one of the manufacturer's new drivers: JOYA.COM or JOYB.COM. For more information, contact Quick Shot. * Roland RAP 10/AT (Roland Corp.) This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such as the SideWinder game pad. * Sound Blaster 16 SCSI-1 (Creative Labs, Inc.) This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such as the SideWinder game pad. NOTE: All other Sound Blaster game ports are compatible with the SideWinder game pad. * TeleVideo TeleWave Q32/SRS (TeleVideo, Inc.) This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such as the SideWinder game pad. If you have problems, try loading the DOS drivers for the card. For the SideWinder 3D Pro to work properly, you must load the MS-DOS drivers as well as the Windows 95 drivers. If you still experience problems, use the SideWinder 3D Pro in analog mode. * Toshiba Tecra 700CT laptop computer (Toshiba America, Inc.) Uses a built-in game port which may produce erratic results. * Toshiba Tecra 720 laptop computer (Toshiba America, Inc.) In Low power mode, there is not enough power available for the SideWinder game pad to work properly from the docking station game port or from a PCMCIA-based game port. If you switch to Full power, both game ports work properly. For information about changing the laptop setting to Full power, see your computer's documentation. * Sound cards or systems using the ESS chip sets You may experience problems (such as erratic button presses) with games if you have the sound on. If you disable the sound, your game should play properly. * Sound cards or systems using the OPTI 930a chip set This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such as the SideWinder game pad. * The following sound cards may have problems when you connect multiple SideWinder game pads. If you experience problems, try disconnecting one game pad at a time to determine the maximum number of game pads that work at once with the sound card. * Sound cards or systems using the ESS chip sets * Sound cards or systems using the OPTI chip sets 2.4 SideWinder 3D Pro Game Port Issues SideWinder 3D Pro functions only in analog mode if you use any of the following game ports: * ThrustMaster ACM Pro * Colorado Spectrum Notebook * Advanced Gravis Eliminator * Logitech Soundman Wave * Media Vision Premium 3D * TeleVideo TeleWave Q32/SRS * Media Vision ProSonic * Boca SoundExpression * Orchid Nusound PnP 32 * Sound cards or systems using ESS chip sets * Sound cards or systems using OPTI 930, 930a, or 931 chip sets To use SideWinder 3D Pro in analog mode with the Windows 95 operating system, we recommend that you select CH FlightStick Pro or ThrustMaster in the Windows 95 Joystick Properties window. 2.5 SideWinder Game Pad Game Port Issues * Various adjustable game cards If you've connected four SideWinder game pads together in a chain, and you have an adjustable game card (such as Computer City Dual Port Game Card MX-911), you may experience "phantom" button presses if your game card isn't set up correctly. If you do experience this phenomenon, consult your game card documentation for help adjusting the game card's speed. =================================================== Part 3: USING SIDEWINDER 3D PRO IN ANALOG MODE =================================================== * If a particular game is not working properly in digital mode, try switching to analog mode. For more information, check your SideWinder 3D Pro Online User's Guide. * If you do set up and calibrate your SideWinder 3D Pro as an analog joystick (such as a ThrustMaster joystick or a CH Flightstick Pro joystick), you may experience some minor erratic movement in the Windows 95 Gaming Device Properties Test tab. This isn't a problem with your joystick--it's a characteristic of analog joysticks. To resolve this problem, install the SideWinder Gaming Devices 1.5 software update, and then use SideWinder 3D Pro in digital mode. =================================================== Part 4: USING THE SIDEWINDER GAME PAD IN PASS-THROUGH MODE FOR ANALOG DEVICES =================================================== 4.1 Pass-through Mode Is Not Supported for Add-on Devices The SideWinder game pad doesn't support Pass-through mode for add-on devices such as throttles, pedals, and so on. Check the documentation for your add-on device to see if it needs to be connected directly to your computer. For example, the Thrustmaster Rudder Control System's documentation specifically states that it should be connected directly to the computer. Therefore, the Thrustmaster will not work with the SideWinder game pad in Pass-through mode. 4.2 Kraft Thunderstick Switches Out of Pass-through Mode If you've connected a Kraft Thunderstick to your SideWinder game pad and the game pad is in Pass-through mode, pressing buttons 1 and 2 simultaneously on the Kraft Thunderstick switches the SideWinder game pad out of Pass-through mode. To use the Kraft Thunderstick again, press the Mode button on your SideWinder game pad once. This puts the game pad back into Pass-through mode. Then avoid pressing buttons 1 and 2 simultaneously on your Kraft Thunderstick. ========================================================= Part 5: GAMES-NOTES ON COMPATIBILITY WITH SIDEWINDER 3D PRO ========================================================= 5.1 Running Games Simultaneously The Game Device Profiler works best when you run only one game at a time. If you have more than one game open, your profile for your second or third game may not work correctly. If you do encounter this problem, close all open games, and then reload the game you want to play. Your profile should work correctly now. 5.2 Use Analog Mode for Best Performance with these Games These games may experience problems with digital devices. For best results, run these games with the SideWinder 3D Pro in analog mode. GAME Publisher -------------- ------------------- Alien Odyssey Argonaut Software, Ltd. Body Count Capstone (IntraCorp, Inc.) Corridor 7 Capstone (IntraCorp, Inc.) Cyberia 2 Interplay Productions, Inc. Delta V Bethesda Softworks, Inc. Earthworm Jim: The Whole Can of Worms Playmates Interactive Entertainment, Inc. Flight Unlimited (DOS version only) Looking Glass Technologies, Inc. Full Throttle LucasArts Entertainment Co. Hardball 5 Accolade, Inc. Iron Assault Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Inc. Mortal Kombat I Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. Need For Speed Electronic Arts Raiden Imagitec Design, Inc. Screamer Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Inc. Shattered Steel Interplay Productions, Inc. Star Wars: Rebel Assault I and II LucasArts Entertainment Co. SuperKarts Manic Media Productions, Ltd. System Shock Origin Systems, Inc. Terminator: Future Shock Bethesda Softworks Tetris Spectrum HoloByte, Inc. TFX Ocean Software, Ltd. Ultimate Body Blows European Leisure Software Publishers Assoc. Wetlands New World Computing, Inc. 5.3 Games That May Experience Problems * The games below may experience problems with the SideWinder 3D Pro joystick. You may want to check with the game publisher for possible updates or patches to the product. GAME Publisher -------------- ------------------- AH-64D Longbow Origin Systems, Inc. Raiden Imagitec Design, Inc. Savage Warriors Mindscape, Inc. Star Trek 25th Anniversary Interplay Productions, Inc. The Dig LucasArts Entertainment Co. Zoop Viacom International, Inc. * Hot Plugging Some games will not detect a SideWinder 3D Pro that you connect during game play. To change or add a gaming device, exit your game, connect the gaming device you want to use for that game session, and then re-start your game. * Mode Switching In some games, when you switch from a SideWinder game pad to a SideWinder 3D Pro during game play, the game will not recognize the joystick. In these cases, you may need to recalibrate the joystick in your game in order for it to work properly. Or, you may need to restart your game. For more information about joystick calibration, refer to your game's documentation. 5.4 Notes on Other Games * Atari 2600 Action Pack for Windows (Activision) When you associate these games with your SideWinder 3D Pro in the Game Device Profiler, make sure you select the 2600EMU.EXE executable file. For example, if you're creating a profile to work with Pitfall, select 2600EMU.EXE, and *not* PITFALL.EXE. Since all the games in this package use the 2600EMU.EXE executable file, you can have only one default profile for all of the games. * Day of the Tentacle (LucasArts Entertainment Co.) For the SideWinder 3D Pro to work correctly, do not use the game's joystick calibration feature. * Descent and Descent II (Interplay Productions, Inc.) You need to run these games with the "-joypolled" command switch. For more information, check the Descent or Descent II Readme file. * EarthSeige 2 (Sierra On-Line, Inc.) To associate this game with your SideWinder 3D Pro, make sure you select the DBSIM.EXE executable file. * Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (LucasArts Entertainment Co.) For the SideWinder 3D Pro to work correctly, do not use the game's joystick calibration feature. * Lode Runner (Sierra On-Line, Inc.) To activate a move that your game has pre-assigned to a joystick button, you will need to press the button twice. * Manic Marbles (Microsoft Corporation) When you associate these games with your SideWinder 3D Pro in the Game Device Profiler, make sure you select the MANIC.M_M executable file, which is located in the \Windows\Temp\MMMCache folder. * Mega Man X (Capcom Entertainment, Inc.) In order to get the most functionality from this game, select the Capcom controller in the game's Option Mode screen. * NFL Quarterback Club '97 (Acclaim Entertainment, Inc.) When played with a SideWinder 3D Pro, this game detects your single joystick as two joysticks. Only buttons 1 and 2 on the SideWinder 3D Pro are directly supported by this game. * Orion Conspiracy (Domark Software Inc.) To associate this game with your SideWinder 3D Pro, make sure you select the ENGLISH.EXE executable file. * Return Fire (Silent Software Inc.) To associate this game with your SideWinder 3D Pro, make sure you select the RFIRE.BIN executable file. * Shockwave Assault (Electronic Arts) To associate this game with your SideWinder 3D Pro, make sure you select the SW#_#.EXE executable file, where the # signs represent the video mode you selected in the game. * Slipstream 5000 (Gremlin Interactive Limited) To associate this game with your SideWinder 3D Pro, make sure you select the PLAYGVD.EXE executable file. * Top Gun (Spectrum Holobyte, Inc.) If you're using SideWinder 3D Pro and the game is set for CH Flightstick Pro, this game interprets two or more simultaneous button presses as the hat switch command. * Virtua Fighter (Sega Entertainment, Inc.) If you are using the SideWinder 3D Pro in analog mode, you must select a four button joystick in Gaming Device Properties. * Williams Arcade Classics (Williams Entertainment, Inc.) When you associate these games with your SideWinder 3D Pro in the Game Device Profiler, make sure you select the GAME.EXE executable file if you're running the Windows 95 versions. For example, if you're creating a profile to work with Joust, select GAME.EXE, and *not* JOUST.EXE. Since all the games in this package use the GAME.EXE executable file, you can have only one default profile for all six of the games. * Wing Commander 3 & 4 (Origin Systems, Inc.) For the SideWinder 3D Pro to work correctly with these games, you need an alternate joystick DLL file (WC3JOY.DLL or WC4JOY.DLL) that is available from Origin Systems. ============================================================= Part 6: GAMES-NOTES ON COMPATIBILITY WITH SIDEWINDER GAME PAD ============================================================= 6.1 Running Games Simultaneously The Game Device Profiler works best when you run only one game at a time. If you have more than one game open, your profile for your second or third game may not work correctly. If you do encounter this problem, close all open games, and then reload the game you want to play. Your profile should work correctly now. 6.2 Setting up the SideWinder Game Pad for MS-DOS-based Games Some MS-DOS-based games require you to choose either a joystick or a game pad in the setup program. In such cases, the SideWinder game pad may respond better if you choose "joystick" rather than "game pad." 6.3 Playing Games in an MS-DOS Box Under Windows 95 * Typically, buttons C and Z on the SideWinder game pad don't work for games played in an MS-DOS box. However, if your game supports the "PC-Fighter" 6-button game pad, to get the extra functionality that these two buttons provide, set your game for the PC-Fighter device. NOTE: This is true only if one SideWinder game pad is connected. (See the next bulleted item.) * If you are playing a game in an MS-DOS box, the number of SideWinder game pad buttons that work depends on the number of SideWinder game pads connected, as well as the number of buttons your game supports. Number of Game Pads Buttons that work if supported ------------------- ------------------------------ One A, B, X, and Y Two A and B Three or Four A and B (on the first two game pads; additional game pads won't work) 6.4 Games That May Experience Problems * The games below may experience problems with the SideWinder game pad. Because it is a fully digital device and designed specifically for Windows 95, the SideWinder game pad may potentially have problems establishing proper communication with these non-Windows 95-based games. You may want to check with the game publisher for possible updates or patches to the product. GAME Publisher -------------- ------------------- AH-64D Longbow Origin Systems, Inc. Alien Odyssey Argonaut Software, Ltd. Body Count Capstone (IntraCorp, Inc.) Corridor 7 Capstone (IntraCorp, Inc.) Cyberia Interplay Productions, Inc. Cyberia 2 Interplay Productions, Inc. Delta V Bethesda Softworks, Inc. Earthworm Jim: The Whole Can of Worms Playmates Interactive Entertainment, Inc. Flight Unlimited (DOS version only) Looking Glass Technologies, Inc. Football Pro '96 Sierra On-Line, Inc. Full Throttle LucasArts Entertainment Co. Hardball 5 Accolade, Inc. Iron Assault Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Inc. Mortal Kombat I Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. Need For Speed Electronic Arts Raiden Imagitec Design, Inc. Savage Warriors Mindscape, Inc. Screamer Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Inc. Star Trek 25th Anniversary Interplay Productions, Inc. Star Wars: Rebel Assault I and II LucasArts Entertainment Co. Shattered Steel Interplay Productions, Inc. SuperKarts Manic Media Productions, Ltd. System Shock Origin Systems, Inc. Terminator: Future Shock Bethesda Softworks Tetris Spectrum HoloByte, Inc. TFX Ocean Software, Ltd. The Dig LucasArts Entertainment Co. Ultimate Body Blows European Leisure Software Publishers Assoc. Wetlands New World Computing, Inc. Zoop Viacom International, Inc. * Hot Plugging Some games will not detect a SideWinder game pad that you connect during game play. To change or add a gaming device, exit your game, connect the gaming device you want to use for that game session, and then re-start your game. * Mode Switching In some games, when you switch from a SideWinder game pad to a SideWinder 3D Pro during game play, the game will not recognize the joystick. In these cases, you may need to recalibrate the joystick in your game in order for it to work properly. Or, you may need to restart your game. For more information about joystick calibration, refer to your game's documentation. * Using Multiple Game Pads Some games, including those listed below, do not recognize gaming devices that are plugged in after the game has been started. If you want to use multiple SideWinder game pads in these games, you must connect them before starting the game. GAME Publisher -------------- ------------------- NHL '97 Electronic Arts NHL Powerplay '96 Virgin Interactive Ultimate Football '95 Microprose Software, Inc. 6.5 Notes on Other Games * Atari 2600 Action Pack for Windows (Activision) When you associate these games with your SideWinder game pad in the Game Device Profiler, make sure you select the 2600EMU.EXE executable file. For example, if you're creating a profile to work with Pitfall, select 2600EMU.EXE, and *not* PITFALL.EXE. Since all the games in this package use the 2600EMU.EXE executable file, you can have only one default profile for all of the games. * Descent and Descent II (Interplay Productions, Inc.) You need to run these games with the "-joypolled" command switch. For more information, check the Descent or Descent II Readme file. * EarthSeige 2 (Sierra On-Line, Inc.) To associate this game with your SideWinder game pad, make sure you select the DBSIM.EXE executable file. * Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (LucasArts Entertainment Co.) For the SideWinder game pad to work correctly, do not use the game's joystick calibration feature. * Lode Runner (Sierra On-Line, Inc.) To activate a move that your game has pre-assigned to a game pad button, you will need to press the button twice. * Manic Marbles (Microsoft Corporation) When you associate these games with your SideWinder game pad in the Game Device Profiler, make sure you select the MANIC.M_M executable file, which is located in the \Windows\Temp\MMMCache folder. * Mega Man X (Capcom Entertainment, Inc.) In order to get the most functionality from this game, select the Capcom controller in the game's Option Mode screen. * NFL Quarterback Club '97 (Acclaim Entertainment, Inc.) You can play this game with one or two SideWinder game pads; however, the game always detects two gaming devices. Only buttons A and B on the SideWinder game pad are directly supported by this game. * Orion Conspiracy (Domark Software Inc.) To associate this game with your SideWinder game pad, make sure you select the ENGLISH.EXE executable file. * Return Fire (Silent Software Inc.) To associate this game with your SideWinder game pad, make sure you select the RFIRE.BIN executable file. * Shockwave Assault (Electronic Arts) To associate this game with your SideWinder game pad, make sure you select the SW#_#.EXE executable file, where the # signs represent the video mode you selected in the game. * Silent Thunder (Sierra On-Line, Inc.) For the SideWinder game pad to work correctly, you need an updated version of the game (version 1.1) from Sierra. * Slipstream 5000 (Gremlin Interactive Limited) To associate this game with your SideWinder game pad, make sure you select the PLAYGVD.EXE executable file. * Triple Play 97 (Electronic Arts) The third and fourth SideWinder game pads stop functioning during game play. Check with Electronic Arts for a patch that solves this problem. * Williams Arcade Classics (Williams Entertainment, Inc.) When you associate these games with your SideWinder game pad in the Game Device Profiler, make sure you select the GAME.EXE executable file if you're running the Windows 95 versions. For example, if you're creating a profile to work with Joust, select GAME.EXE, and *not* JOUST.EXE. Since all the games in this package use the GAME.EXE executable file, you can have only one default profile for all six of the games. * Wing Commander 3 & 4 (Origin Systems, Inc.) For the SideWinder game pad to work correctly with these games, you need an alternate joystick DLL file (WC3JOY.DLL or WC4JOY.DLL) that is available from Origin Systems. ============================== Part 7: DISPLAY COMPATIBILITY ============================== 7.1 Use The Latest Drivers In general, it is a good idea to make sure you have the latest release of the video drivers for your card. If you have the latest video drivers and still have display problems, try the following: * Switch to one of the drivers included with the Windows 95 software. * Change to a different display mode. An alternative to using a different driver is to change your video mode to a standard video mode such as 640x480 resolution with 256 colors. For details on how to change drivers or switch to a different display mode, see your Windows 95 documentation. 7.2 Diamond Edge 3D Nvidia Video Drivers If you use the Diamond Edge 3D video card with the video driver NVDISP.DRV (version 4.0, dated 10/25/95), you will notice a display problem in the Game Device Profiler. Specifically, the items in the list of devices, games, and profiles display initially as white boxes. Once you click an item in the list, all items and text appear correctly. To correct this problem, contact Diamond Multimedia Systems for the latest video drivers. ====================== Part 8: MEMORY ISSUES ====================== The SideWinder Gaming Devices 1.5 update should run on any personal computer with a 486/66 or higher processor with at least 8MB of RAM. However, if you have other applications running, you may not have enough memory available to start the Game Device Profiler and run your game at the same time. When your system doesn't have enough resources available, you will either receive an error message or you will notice that your screen won't redraw properly. If you encounter these problems, close any other open applications and try again. If you receive an error message that you do not have enough space on your hard disk to perform an action, you will need to delete unnecessary files from your computer to gain some free space. ======================================================= Part 9: KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS IN THE GAME DEVICE PROFILER ======================================================= 9.1 Exit Keystroke Assignment Mode After recording a keystroke, you can press ESC to exit out of the keystroke recording mode. 9.2 Display "Right-Click" Shortcut Menu In the list of devices, games, and profiles, you can press SHIFT+F10 to display the shortcut menu in addition to using the right-click (or secondary button click) mouse method. ========================= Part 10: TROUBLESHOOTING ========================= This section contains answers to specific questions you may have. For additional troubleshooting information, see the Trouble- shooting sections of the SideWinder 3D Pro Online User's Guide or the SideWinder game pad Online User's Guide, and the Game Device Profiler Online User's Guide. * * * * * 10.1 QUESTION: My game is behaving strangely. Is there any way I can troubleshoot the game with the Game Device Profiler turned off? ANSWER: Yes. You can "suspend" the Game Device Profiler. This allows you to troubleshoot in your game without having to delete any profiles for a device-game combination. >>>To "suspend" the Game Device Profiler: 1 On the lower-right corner of the Windows 95 taskbar, right-click the Game Device Profiler icon. 2 Click Suspend Game Device Profiler. 3 Troubleshoot your game. 4 To restart the Game Device Profiler, repeat Steps 1 and 2. * * * * * 10.2 QUESTION: I just set up the SideWinder Gaming Devices 1.5 updated software, but Gaming Device Properties shows that my device is not connected. What should I do? ANSWER: Try any of the following: * Make sure you have plugged your joystick or game pad into the correct port. (See Section 2.1, "Don't Connect Your Gaming Device to a Network Port.") * Make sure you have installed the new SideWinder Gaming Devices 1.5 updated software * Reboot your machine. * Follow the procedure described in Section 10.3. If these things don't solve the problem, review Section 2.3, "Game Port and Sound Card Issues," or contact your game port manufacturer. * * * * * 10.3 QUESTION: In the Control Panel, I see a "Gaming Devices" icon, but I can't open it; or, I can open it, but my devices are listed as "not connected." ANSWER: If you previously had a game port, but it was removed, the Setup program incorrectly detects that you still have a game port. Install a card with a game port (such as a sound card), and then run Setup again. If there is no response from the joystick, or Device Manager reports that the device is not present, not working properly, or does not have all of its drivers installed, perform the following procedure. >>>To resolve your joystick problem: 1 Start the computer in Safe mode since real-mode device drivers may conflict with the Windows 95 drivers and disable the game port. (For step-by-step instructions, consult your Windows 95 documentation.) 2 Remove the GamePort Joystick from the Control Panel Device Manager and then add it again: a. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. b. Double-click the System icon and then click the Device Manager tab. c. Double-click Sound, Video, and Game Controllers, and then check for a GamePort Joystick. If one exists, click it and then click Remove. d. Click OK, and then click Close. To add the GamePort Joystick, or if there is no GamePort Joystick entry, run the Add New Hardware Wizard in the Control Panel. For more information, consult your Windows 95 documentation. 3 Verify that the GamePort Joystick is working at the MS-DOS level. To do so, try to use the joystick with an MS-DOS-based game. Refer to the game's documentation for information about configuring the joystick. * * * * * 10.4 QUESTION: I just turned on my computer and opened the Control Panel. Why don't I see Joystick or Gaming Device Properties? ANSWER: Your sound card may not be initialized properly due to a game port or driver problem. >>>To reinitialize your sound card so that you can access Gaming Device Properties: 1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2 Double-click the System icon, and then click the Device Manager tab. 3 Double-click Sound, Video, and Game Controllers, select Gameport Joystick (or the device that has an error), and then click Properties. 4 Click the Resources tab, and then click Set Configuration Manually. 5 Clear the Use Automatic Settings check box, and then click OK. 6 In System Properties, click OK, close the Control Panel, and then restart your computer. * * * * * 10.5 QUESTION: I want to create a profile for my game, but the game comes with multiple executable files. When I'm associating the game with my gaming device, how do I know which executable file to select? ANSWER: Select the main executable file for the game. Typically, games that come with more than one .EXE file are played in an MS-DOS box, or can be played in either Windows 95 or MS-DOS. * If the game is played only in MS-DOS, look for the .EXE or .COM file that is the largest. * If the game can be played in either Windows 95 or MS-DOS, look for an .EXE or .COM file that contains the name of the game and perhaps a "W" for "Windows." * * * * * 10.6 QUESTION: My game plays directly from my CD-ROM drive. I created a profile for this game, but it doesn't work. Why? ANSWER: Your game may be one that temporarily copies its executable file to the \Windows\Temp directory, and then deletes it when you quit the game. Therefore, when you associate this game with your gaming device, you must specify that the .EXE (or .COM) file is located in the \Windows\Temp directory instead of on your CD-ROM drive. >>>To specify that the executable file is located in the \Windows\Temp directory: 1 Insert the game compact disc into the CD-ROM drive. 2 After the game finishes loading, press ALT+TAB to switch to Windows 95. 3 Open the Game Device Profiler, and click the Add Game button. 4 Under Look In, open the \Windows\Temp directory. 5 In the list of files, select your game's executable file, and then click OK. 6 Edit and save the profile, and then press ALT+TAB to return to your game. * * * * * 10.7 QUESTION: What's the minimum system configuration I need in order to run the SideWinder Gaming Devices 1.5 updated software? ANSWER: You must have a personal computer with a 486DX/66 or higher processor, with 8 megabytes of RAM, 6 megabytes of available hard disk space, 256-color VGA or better display, and running Windows 95. * * * * * 10.8 QUESTION: I see strange colors in the Game Device Profiler. What do I do? ANSWER: The Game Device Profiler is designed to run at 640x480 resolution, or higher, with a minimum of 256 colors. If your display is set to show 16 colors, change your display to show 256 colors or more. For details on changing your display settings, see your Windows 95 documentation. * * * * * 10.9 QUESTION: Why isn't one of my keystroke assignments working in my game? ANSWER: Your game may be one that in certain situations goes into a "non-polling" mode. This means that the game stops requesting information from the gaming device. (For example, this may happen when you press a gaming device button that you programmed to pause your game.) To make your game respond again, press the original keystroke that you had assigned to the gaming device button. * * * * * 10.10 QUESTION: My game is part of a multi-game package. I'm trying to create a profile for my game, but the profile isn't working. What should I do? ANSWER: Some companies that combine multiple games into one package use a single executable file for all of the games. To solve the problem, create one default profile for all of the games in the package using the single executable file. (Tip: The single executable file is usually the largest file that ends in .EXE.) * * * * * 10.11 QUESTION: I'm starting my MS-DOS-based games from the MS-DOS prompt. The profile for the first game works fine, but my profiles for all the games that I start after that don't work. Why? ANSWER: The Game Device Profiler can run only one game's profile per MS-DOS session. To use a profile for another MS-DOS-based game, you must close the MS-DOS window, and then start the next game from a new MS-DOS prompt. * * * * * 10.12 Problems with the SideWinder game pad 10.12.1 QUESTION: Why doesn't my SideWinder game pad work when I restart my computer in MS-DOS mode ("real mode")? ANSWER: Unlike SideWinder 3D Pro, the SideWinder game pad is digital-only device. Only games that run under Windows 95 or in an MS-DOS box under Windows 95 will work with the game pad. * * * * * 10.12.2 QUESTION: I have several game pads connected in a chain, but Gaming Device Properties shows that one or more of my game pads are "not connected." What should I do? ANSWER: Restart your computer without any game pads connected, and then connect and test each one in turn. >>>To test your game pads: 1 Unplug all of your game pads, turn off your computer, and then start your computer again. 2 Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 3 Double-click Gaming Devices. 4 Plug in a game pad, then click Test and ensure that all of your buttons are working properly. 5 Continue plugging in your game pads (up to four in a chain), testing each game pad to ensure that it is working properly. * * * * * 10.12.3 QUESTION: I connected two more SideWinder game pads to the one I'm already using, but the new ones don't show up in the Game Device Profiler. What's the problem? ANSWER: The Game Device Profiler will not recognize game pads that you connect while the Profiler is open. With all your game pads still connected, close the Game Device Profiler and then start it again. * * * * * 10.13 QUESTION: I connected a SideWinder game pad or SideWinder 3D Pro while I was playing a game, but the game does not recognize it. What's the problem? ANSWER: Some games do not recognize gaming devices that are connected after the game has already been started. To change or add a gaming device, exit your game, connect all of the gaming devices you want to use for the session, and then re-start your game. ======================================================= Part 11: UPDATES TO THE SIDEWINDER 3D PRO 1.0 SOFTWARE ======================================================= If you have a SideWinder 3D Pro, you'll notice these software updates when you use the Game Device Profiler and the Gaming Device Properties. * The SideWinder 3D Pro digital driver has been updated and is included with this release of the SideWinder Gaming Devices 1.5 updated software. Calibration is now automatic and the rudder control is always on. * Included with this software is a Gaming Device Properties in the Control Panel. It contains a Test page with a new, more intuitive design for testing all the buttons and controls on your joystick. ======================= Part 12: CORRECTIONS ======================= Help: SideWinder 3D Pro Online User's Guide and SideWinder Game Pad Online User's Guide Topics: Uninstall the SideWinder 3D Pro software Uninstall the SideWinder game pad software Replace step 3 of the procedure with the following information: 3 Click Microsoft Gaming Devices, and then click Add/Remove.